Cool place to visit, especially if you are in the Mammoth Lakes area. Lots of hiking trails and cool rock formations in the area. We rode our ebikes down, so we avoided the crowds and the price of the shuttle bus (You can ride down to the Postpile for free on a bicycle). There are not too many cars on the road there, and the road isn't too steep, so definitely try this if you have an ebike with gears. Minus one star because they don't allow bicycles on trails; sad, especially since the trails are wide enough to accommodate bicycles. read more

We came here a few days before the autumnal equinox (September). The hike is really short, about 0.3 miles from the parking lot. We pretty much had the place to ourselves because it's right after the summer months. I recommend seeing the columnar basalts from the bottom, then go back a bit and take the stairs where it says "hike loop to the top" or something like that. That way you can what the top of these columns look like. Watch out though. The stairs can be exhausting for some people, so take your time. Also, the tops of the columns can be slippery even on gorgeous and clear days. The view is phenomenal! I really felt like 'coming home'. At the top of the columns there's a trail towards Rainbow Falls if you want to go. read more

Located within Inyo National Forest, near the town of Mammoth Lakes (home of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area), is Devils Postpile National Monument. It is an 800-acre park and two of its most impressive features are Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls. Devils Postpile is an unbelievable, seemingly manmade, columnar formation made from cooled basaltic lava. The pictures speak for themselves. It brings to mind the Wizard of Oz's Emerald City and Superman's Fortress of Solitude. From there you can make your way along the hiking trail to Rainbow Falls where water flows from a 100 foot cliff of volcanic rock. A rainbow can sometimes be seen in the mist rising from the rocks below when the sun is overhead on a clear day. The first thing that you will need to know if you plan on visiting is that Devils Postpile Monument is open only 5 months out of the year, from mid-June to mid-Oct. The other thing you will need to know, depending on when you plan to visit, is that you may be required to take a shuttle bus to reach the various trailheads. The shuttle bus runs from mid-June into September. Tickets can be purchased at the Adventure Center located at the main gondola building at Mammoth Mountain 10001 Minaret Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 (800) 626-6684. If you are visiting after September then you will be allowed to drive your own car into the valley without needing to use the shuttle. The day I visited they had reached their capacity so I was told to return in two hours. The shuttle passes cost $7 for adults, $4 per children 3-15, and children under $2 are free. If you are driving your own car into the valley then the One Day Pass is $10 per vehicle. During shuttle season you are able to bypass the shuttle if you have a handicap placard, an inflatable float tube, if you are staying in the campground, or if you are a hunter who is transporting weapons or game. I suppose if you really feel motivated to drive your car during shuttle season then you can always just bring an inner tube or mount a big game carcass to the roof of your car, although I don't recommend it. The 30 minute shuttle makes 9 stops. The most popular stops are number 6 and 9, Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls. I recommend starting at the Devils Postpile trailhead and hiking to Rainbow Falls. It's about a 5 mile roundtrip hike. If you want to shorten the hike you can hike to the falls and then take the shuttle back from bus stop number 9. I saw a number of people on the trails with dogs and I even a few parents pushing strollers. Dogs must be leashed and muzzled. Be sure to visit the southern section of the National Forest. There are a number of scenic lakes and trails that are well worth the visit. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

See all

When you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, seeing the Eastern Sierra sometimes seems unattainable. That's especially so in the Winter when all the passes are usually closed and the best and longest way is sometimes to go to Reno and then drive South. In the Summer or at least after the snow clears, driving access is easier, albeit long. Some time ago, my parents came to town and we did one of our "famous" driving trips. We went to Yosemite, continued on through the Tioga Pass, and began our exploration of the Eastern Sierra from a motel at June Lake. We eventually continued onto Mono Lake, Bodie and points North, but before we did we went to Mammoth and explored Devil's Postpile National Monument. Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery. The formation is a rare sight in the geologic world and ranks as one of the world's finest examples of columnar basalt. Its columns tower 60 feet high and display an unusual symmetry. Please note that you have to take the Reds Meadow Shuttle into the park and then walk in further. This reduces the number of vehicles entering the Valley and helps keep the area more pristine. The formation is gorgeous, but you can get yourself killed if you're inclined to climb where you shouldn't. And for some odd reason, there's a little microclimate here that makes this place a little chilly, considering how hot it was when we started out. The added hike to Rainbow Falls is also worth your effort. read more

My visit was on 8.11.20 and I was at the parking lot around 7:45 within 15minutes that it took me to get my kids ready and the baby on the hiking carrier the parking lot was full, so if you want parking lot by the beginning of the trail then plan to get there early. The walk to Devils Postpile is fairly small and easy, but our plans were to go to rainbow falls so we kept going. This hike is actually a little more than 6miles round trip and there are places where the hill can be a little steep, but there's plenty of places along the way with shade where one can take a break if not used to hiking. My 4 yr old complained about his feet at 5.5 miles but I told him to suck it up. He has done 14 mile bike rides and is used to physical activity, but if your children are complainers don't take them on this hike. I saw kids crying others complaining and some very unprepared parents. One water bottle per person just won't cut it specially during hot days. So take snacks for kids and plenty of water. At the top of waterfall there's some steep stairs that will take you down to the bottom of the waterfall (I did not attempt to go as I didn't want to roll down with the baby inside the hiking carrier ) read more

See all

2nd time to Devil's Postpile NM, this time we camped down at Devil's Postpile NPS Campground. They have only 21 sites, first come, first serve, $14/night, Two loops: Loop B (with river behind it), or Loop A (no river). If you don't get one of those sights there are many campgrounds around there, but it's part of Inyo National Forest and $20/nt. Stayed at Loop A, site A3. Not too far from bathrooms. Bathrooms for women's 3 flushed toilets, 2 sinks, soap, hand dryer didn't work when we were there, outlet i should have brought my phone charger. Shuttle is FREE if camping & going around the park, if u want to go to Mammoth Lakes then it's $7 per person. If not camping, it's $7 per person Mandatory Shuttle from Mammoth Lakes to Devil's Postpile. Hiked: Devil's Postpile - easy hike, best in afternoon for photos, morning too dark. Rainbow Falls - nice in the summer even, best for Rainbow in the Afternoon, not in the morning! Lower Falls - pool you can swim in the cold water. Base of Rainbow Falls - cold water u can swim at base of it. Sotcher Lake - don't go in the water there's leeches in there! Saw bear poo, then later a Bear! It saw me then turned around & ran up the hill. Saw a bald eagle too up in the tree. Fishermen in the water in inflated things. Starkweather Lake - just took some pics, saw fishemen in the water. Minaret Falls - best early summer, when we went Aug 10, 2013 not running so great. Agnew Meadow for Wildflower Hike - short, best in early summer, by August not much to look at. Minaret Vista before going into the park or after leaving the park - nice for photo ops! Worth going! More hiking to do in there if I ever go back & maybe swimming in the pools. read more

If you're in the Mammoth area, do this hike. It's a pretty easy hike, so don't let the name intimidate you. First thing's first: Getting there. Go to the adventure center, buy a shuttle ticket for $7, hop on said shuttle, exit stop #6, and get to stepping. The Postpile is rather small, yet still impressive. Once you've taken the requisite pics, keep going and hike to Rainbow Falls. The burn areas have a special kind of tragic beauty to them, so stop and ponder. We went on a really hot day, so we were glad we took our camelbacks and snacks. The stairs to the falls were rather steep, so make sure you save plenty of energy for the walk down the stairs and back up. Once you've finished taking in the water, treat yourself to a couple of cold ones at the little cafe/market on the hike out. read more

See all

5 stars for an easy scenic access to Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls. Came August on a warm day. Bring water and snacks. The trail To Devils Postpile is not as exposed (and shorter) compared to the one to Rainbow Falls (90% exposed due to a fire). So head out early (like before 8:30am) if you want to beat the heat. -$7 R/T shuttle ticket (mandatory during the summer) at the Main Lodge Gondola Bldg. If there's too many people, you may have to stand in the shuttle or wait for the next shuttle. Comes every 30 minutes and comes every 20 minutes after 10am. -There are 10 shuttle stops. If I had more time, I would stop by Sotcher Lake. SHORTEST/Easiest WAY to see Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls- -30 minute ride to Devils Postpile Ranger Station/Trailhead. Easy, hilly 0.4 mile walk to Devils Postpile. The loop trail above is worth it if you have time. HOWEVER, if you don't do it and continue onto Rainbow Falls, make sure to walk a little up the end of the loop trail where you will find another good view of Devils Postpile. Continue another 2.1 miles to Rainbow Falls. Check out the river from above on one of the non-marked short trails on the right side. -Rainbow Falls- One of the more beautiful falls I've seen. Lots of great photos can be taken at top. If you want to go to the bottom, it's an extra 0.3 miles with stairs. To take the shuttle back, head back a little on the Rainbow Falls trail and go up to Reds Meadow Resort which is less than 1.3 miles. Alternatively, you can walk up to the Rainbow Falls Trailhead, but Reds Meadow Resort has a convenience store/restrooms/cafe there. read more

With a name like Devil's Postpile, I had my doubts. It sounded ominous and eerie. And really, what was a postpile anyways? Well, it's quite literally a pile of posts. In this case beautifully smooth basalt "posts" carved from glaciers. Once you visit the monument it all makes sense. Or you could just look through the photos. Devil's Postpile NM wasn't our intended destination. In fact, our October 3 day weekend trip to Mammoth was entirely spur of the moment and done on the fly. We had zero expectations, and that's just how I like it. We decided to drive around the ski lodge and check out the autumn scenery. As we were driving down from a Vista, we saw several car loads of people turning onto a ranger guarded road. Being adventuresome, and a tad nosey, we decided to pay our entrance fee ($10) and take a look around. The road was a little windy, but well paved and with plenty of turnouts. The main road heads down into the valley, so be careful not to ride the brakes. There's plenty to see, and several roads to explore. There's an endless amount of things to check out that a day really isn't enough. After about 15 minutes of driving (and some exploring) we made it to the main parking lot of Devil's Postpile. It was completely full, surprisingly so for being mid-afternoon. There was an empty ranger station and a few bathrooms. There was absolutely no potable water to be found, which was a bit strange considering the amount of visitors and campgrounds nearby. The trail-head was clearly marked, and nicely maintained, although a tad dirty. You can tell this easy little trail sees plenty of folks, both of the two and four legged variety. If you're looking for a nice quiet nature trail, this isn't it. But it is your only option for viewing the beautiful Postpiles. So put on your patient panties, expect to walk slowly behind crowds of non-hiking tourists, and be careful to avoid stepping in dog poo. Even so, it's entirely worth it. This is a magnificent geological feature that must be seen. This is a living, breathing National Monument and everything around is simply glorious. Quick Note: If you have the time, hike a bit further to Rainbow Falls. The views are splendid. On your return hike, take a quick detour to the left. Cross over the bridge to Soda Springs Meadow and walk down to the creek. There you'll find Soda Springs, as evident by the red colored iron deposits along the bank. This color is especially bright in the summer to late Fall. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Devil's Postpile - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

See all

I was so excited to go see this natural landscape I about couldn't stand myself. It was the first week of May, so I thought that it wouldn't be too hot. Well, I was right, it wasn't hot or open because of snow. I will have to plan another trip that way. Planned another trip, computer said they were open when we left Fort Bragg, CA. Within our trip we decided to go thru and stay in a Camping yurt in Yosemite. That would have been great if my Mother hasn't gotten food poisoning from sausage on a pizza purchased there. Low and behold, I can not drive out of Yosemite because of my vertigo. Now, Mom sick all night, she has to drive us out of there, we get to that nice new gas station East off the park... I have to eat, she needs sleep; she sleeps in the car as I go in and eat. I can finally drive and head north, as we approach the exit for Devils Postpile.... IT IS CLOSED YET AGAIN!! I would love to say that it was an awesome sight to be seen, but I can not. Please Highway department, IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING ROADWORK AND COMPLETELY CLOSING DOWN THE ROAD... LET THE WEBSITES, Internet and the rest of us who have tried seeing it, now twice, SOME INFORMATION!!! Not even the rest area or visitors center into Mammoth Lakes had a clue!!!! Disappointed to say the least!!! Wound up staying in Reno because we needed to drive to cool off!!! Yosemite's disappointment with failing to contact us later about the sickness ( yes, we did make a report) and your lack of road crew preparation informing the public... How about someone sending out a solid, please restore my faith in further adventures, especially in that area of California!!! Jody Fagundes AND Diana Berry Fort Bragg, CA read more

What a trip!!! Just a short hike (~10 min) from the 6th shuttle stop, you get to see really interesting rock formations! It's the largest collections of basaltic columns made from lava and glaciers! So neat! The rest of the park is a really nice hike that you can take to rainbow falls. You see what a Forrest looks like units early stages since it's just recovering from a huge fire that went through in the eighties. Definitely recommended if you're in the mammoth area! read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

See all

I guess I don't get it. It was a very long drive to get to the monument and although it was a relatively short walk to see the postpile, I couldn't figure out what all of the hulabaloo was about. It's somewhat interesting formed rock in a mountain. Big deal. Next. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - I drove all this way to see this? - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

Personally, I wasn't very impressed with the Devil's Postpile. Aside from the fact that you need to wait a very long time for the expensive shuttle, this is really just a pile of rocks in an unusual formation. Best to only take a few minutes to take pictures, and then move onward and hike to Rainbow Falls instead. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

Devil's Postpile is an incredible destination! It's well worth adding to your Mammoth trip and after your visit, you may also feel that it deserves to be ranked #1 on any Mammoth tourist website. It costs $10 for the day to enter the park. The park accepts both credit card and cash to pay for entry. The rock postpile area is about .5 miles from the parking area (1-mile round trip hike). It's beautiful and uniquely interesting as thousands of rocks transcend up a hill. If you are feeling add adventurous, try hiking to Rainbow Falls. The water walls are about an additional 2.5 miles from the postpile (5 miles round trip), but worth the visit. The falls are about 60 feet high and you are able to take several scenic pictures from various overlooks. Tips: -bring a water bottle, swim shorts (if you're feeling adventurous) and a towel. -if you're planning to visit during a non summer month, call ahead or check online to see if the park is open -if you visit during the summer, visit during non peak heat hours as it can get very hike past the rocks. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Beautiful view of Rainbow Falls, which is about 2.5 miles from the rock pile. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

See all

Devils Postpile is a great spot...within easy driving distance of better spots. The formation itself is very cool, but in an area filled with spectacular natural wonders and extraordinary places to visit, this one does pale in comparison. Add to that it's lackluster visitor center and unpleasantly crowded campground, and it is not at the top of our list of NPS sites, particularly with the cost and difficulty of getting to the site itself. That said, we did enjoy our visit. It is one of the only NPS sites that allows total access to dogs (even on the trails), which is fantastic. The trailheads here lead to some incredible backcountry experiences. Hiking to the top of the formation to see the tops of the columns is a must, as well as the hike out to Rainbow Falls, which is a bit longer, but worth the trip. Overall, if you are already staying in Mammoth, it is worth the shuttle ride to see the Postpile. However, if I were choosing places to stop along 395, I would much rather take a tour of the Mono Lake tufas, see the Bristlecone Pines, or even take the hike through Fossil Falls. And camping...there are far, far better places to camp in this area. Devil's Postpile just has a lot of competition. read more

See all

This is a terrific, easy hike to a very unique looking geological formation. We only ended up going to the top of the Postpile but it was still super worth it to see the honeycomb/soap bubble shaped rocks. It's a $7 shuttle ride to get from Mammoth Main Lodge to the trail head so I recommend doing this hike and continuing on to Rainbow Falls to get your money's worth. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Trail head sign - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

See all

Definitely a great place to visit, can get a good workout in, too. The trails are good for jogging if you're into that. Also, if anybody sees a piece of camera lens foam in the river, that's my fault. A gust of wind blew it away because I failed to secure it. Sorry. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Rainbow Falls: Not readily apparent why it has that name - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

I was free to drive around. No shuttle bus on a Friday. Parking lot wasn't crowded on a Friday. The hike was easy to the bottom of Devils Postpile. Walking up to the top of Devils Postpile took some effort but gave me a nice workout. Very slippery on the rocks. There is a pine tree growing near the edge of the cliff. The view at the top of Devils Postpile was breath taking. Well, if you slip and fall, you would meet the devil. J/K. read more

Woohoo, the hike to the top of Devil's Postpile was spectacular. Not only did I see the bottom like last year, but we hiked to the top. At the top, you see a bunch of hectogram shape rocks. You also see a nice view as well. It is worth it to hike up even if you are huffing and puffing due to the altitude. Just like it is worth the one mile hike to Rainbow Falls. The hike back down is easy too. A lot of people come to Mammoth for the slopes, but there are a lot of people sight seeing the national parks and mouments like Devil's Postpile. Word of warning, when you hike to the top, becareful and don't listen to the photographer when he tells you to back up or you have a nice ride down to the ground and you might break. read more

This is a nice place to hike with the entire family. We had our two kids ages 8 and 11 and we did the hike from bus stop 6 to the post pile and then hiked on to rainbow falls and out to bus stop 10 where there is a general store and campgrounds. Our only "mistake" was leaving a little too late in the day. I think we left Mammoth resort just before 5pm, and the busses last run starts at 7:45. For me it was not a problem, but our youngest hiker with the shortest legs got a little tired out as we had to keep moving to make sure we got to stop 10 before the bus. As for the monument itself, it is neat to look at, but not the most impressive natural beauty I have ever seen. If you are in the area it is a great place to hike because the trails are clearly marked and well maintained. As others have mentioned you purchase shuttle tickets at Mammoth Adventure Center and then take a shuttle into Inyo National Forest to the stop closest to the things you want to see. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

See all

Always a good visit to see rainbow falls and DP, but brought my national park pass which is interagency and the ranger at the station on top of road denied it and made me pay once I left. She was a goon for that. Literally says online that it is accepted. read more

While I previously read the reviews here, I was still confused where to catch this shuttle everyone mentions. Unfortunately, they do not allow personal vehicles on the roads to the Postpile anymore. So you are stuck taking a shuttle at $7/pp, which is a complete rip off. My hubby just couldn't understand why we are paying $22 just to see some rocks! Go to the Mammoth ski area where you can park for free. Then inside the lodge is where the shuttle tickets are purchased. Not much more to say that hasn't been said already. Even my hubby found it fascinating, just not $22 worth. So while Mother Nature will almost always get a 5 star from me, I'm taking one star away for the shuttle. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

See all

We have been wanting to check out the post pile after coming up to mammoth for years. Daughter finally said let's go check it out. If you want to drive in yourself, need to be there before 7am otherwise busses only. Totally didn't wake up in time. Arrived about 11am. Buy tickets at the entrance to lodge and catch the bus. It was $22 for 2 adults 2 kids. It was absolutely awesome. We hike all the way to the top of the post pile then walked back around in front of it. A really nice hike with great picture taking opportunities. There is a really awesome stream running down at the bottom. At the end of the trail is a picnic table with a few picnic tables. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Awesome - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

A complimentary bus ride, to minimize traffic of the area, take people to the trail head of the Postpiles. It is just a few steps from bus to base of Postpiles, even people in wheelchairs can do it. This is great for the masses, which there usually are. Can also hike to top of Postpiles or continue the hike to Rainbow Falls. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

The Devil Postpile is a very interesting geological formation and totally worth the 0.5 mile hike. However, it isn't a very big Monument and I was still craving adventure when I left. For future visits, I would definitely take on a hike to Rainbow Falls or surrounding hikes to satisfy my pioneer spirit! (Who knew I had one?!) Since taking the shuttle here cost $7, it's a minimum worth a 1/2 day adventure vs. the measly 2 hours me and my friends had allocated to visit this place. read more

See all

Devils Postpile is awesome! Getting there is not. Leashed dogs are welcome according to the NPS website. When you arrive, they inform you that you must muzzle your dog (regardless of breed, size, etc.). Don't worry.... they will conveniently SELL you a muzzle (since few of us carry one around with us if our dog travels easily) at highway robbery prices. Add that to the $8 per person to take a mandatory shuttle and they are ripping you off. On our trip back, the bus driver allowed the bus to become so overcrowded we were shoulder to shoulder like it was a NYC subway! The Postpile itself is AMAZING and a must see. But the shuttle service is an unfortunate part of the trip and VERY poorly run. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument was pretty cool. The columnar basalt was apparently formed because the lava cooled at a specific temperature causing the unique hexagonal shape. You can hike up to the top of the formation as well as view them from below- great photo ops. Located near Mammoth Lakes, the scenery was just breathtaking. The shuttle was only $7 round-way. I was by myself, but people were really nice and helpful, and I ended up tagging along with this family who was super cool. Give yourself at least 5 hours to check out Devil's Postpile and Rainbow Falls. I got there at 4 so I didn't have enough time for both. Lots of other trails to check out too. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - The tile in my bathoom has the same hexagon shape - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

See all

Well for the devils review... why not review one of the most unique national monuments around. It is perhaps the most unique geologic formation that I know of. Definitely that I have seen. Hundreds of pillars pushed up from the bowels of the earth and all were formed at the same time. Almost 45% are perfect hexagons. The other 55% vary between 3 and 7 sided columns. The speed of their cooling is what differentiated their shape. They were also made even by a glacier... Pro Tip: Bring a hydration backpack and a couple of sandwiches to picnic with =) To get here first you must make your way across the John Muir Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, or take the shuttle from Mammoth Mountain's main lodge. The shuttle takes you down to Red's Meadow pack station. From there it is time to make sure your laces are on tightly and it's time to hoof it to the postpile (multiple signs and a clearly marked trail help) and then to Rainbow Falls. You can do it in reverse as well. It's a great hike either way and the summer flowers are beautiful in Reds Meadow as well. Lots of great flora and fauna for you to check out and enjoy as well. The hike is at altitude which may make it difficult for you, however it is a doable hike as it is short without great ascents/descents. To further make you realize how easy this hike is, I did it the first time at the ripe old age of 4. Sure the kids may complain a bit, but seriously this is one of those get out of the house off your butt and do something easy kinda days that will bring you back into touch with nature and make you question why you don't do that much much more often. Pro Tip #2: I suggest going earlier in the summer as the trail is not as dusty ;) I hope you do get out and check this place out. The memories it generates will last a lifetime. I can still remember parts of my first trek to the area. It's also fun to see the mule trains as they are coming or going. So yeah not really devilish, but please go check out this place. There are less than 20 places like it on the face of the Earth. It is definitely well worth the trek. I plan on taking the munchkin there sometime soon as well. read more

Go to adventure center -- buy shuttle tickets -- wait in line -- go to stop #6 -- walk 10-15 min to postpiles -- keep hiking for 2 miles -- go to Rainbow Falls -- swim -- hike back, but towards the resort (stop #10) b/c it is a shorter hike -- take shuttle back down. Bring: lots of water, snacks, hat, camera, sunscreen, swimsuit. YOU'RE WELCOME!!! read more

Super cool daytime activity if you are staying in Mammoth and want a quick workout. The scenery is breathtaking and the Devil's Postpile itself leaves you wondering how it was formed. I would also recommend making the additional trek to Rainbow Falls, so long as it will take about an hour and a half to complete the 5 mile round trip adventure. Come prepared and bring water. The hike itself isn't very tough and there aren't any steep inclines, but you are at a high elevation so keep that in mind. Also don't forget to keep your trash with you and if possible pick up any trash that you might see on the trail. ENJOY! read more

Info is sketchy on how to get there. Basically, you can't drive to it and don't want to. There is a special bus that takes you there for $8 from the Mammoth Bike Park. The thing that is not clear is that parking sucks there and you can park down the hill or as far down as Mammoth Village and jump on the FREE Mammoth shuttle bus (has the M logo)... to take you to Bike Park where you get on the Park Bus (Eastern Sierra graphics). Clear as mud? It's ideal to snag the paid bus tickets at the gondola ticket counter then wait in line for the bus up. You may need to stand on the bus the whole 30 twisty road minutes on the bus. There are bathrooms at the monument trailhead. It's a gorgeous area with a .5 mile hike to the Postpile along a pretty river. Very leisurely. read more

They won't let you drive on. You need to pay 8.00 to use their shuttle. Total ripoff to see a national monument. Land of the free nothing.

I went here on National Monument Day, which means it was free for us, but the shuttle service recently ended, so the drive can be difficult/scary if there are a lot of cars on that skinny road on the edge of a cliff. Don't get me wrong, the hike we took was pretty nice, but there's only one really nice waterfall (Rainbow Falls) and the hexagon rocks to look at. The trail is pretty mellow, and only gets hard when you're climbing to the top of the hexagon rocks, but it's a short distance. It's actually better to caravan it and park one car at one stop and another car at another stop so you can start from one place and end in another without having to retrace your whole hike. I guess if there's a shuttle you can do the same, since the shuttle stops at multiple places. If you're camping in the area, make sure you know when the shuttle service ends. We ended up picking up a few hitch hikers that trekked from Yosemite to Postpile and was counting on the shuttle to take them back to Mammoth. Luckily, they were nice guys and not creepy murderers, in fact they weren't even stinky from that week long hike they just took. read more

This is a very interesting place! First of all, the "postpiles" tower over you as you stand below, but the interesting part is after you climb up the stair-trial to the top, you notice their unique configuration... octagon! Yes, each one is octagon in shape as it interlocks with the one next to it... an amazing geological wonder! To enjoy this experience, you will need to take the convenient valley shuttle, and after visiting the 1941 Ranger Station, hike a short distance (0.4 mi.) to this one of a kind formation. Friendly, knowledgable Rangers and storyboards also provide assistance. Stunning! read more

The hike to Devil's Postpile is short and easy. The rock formations look very unique. This is fun little space to stop, admire, take photos, and catch your breath. read more

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

This is a really neat geological feature that's a super fun short visit and walk - you can get a longer hike in the area around the feature but it's mostly a great excuse to stretch your legs and have a picnic. It's not too far past Mammoth Lakes and definitely worth a visit if you have time and you're in the area. Gorgeous views from up on the trail. read more

Talk about natural wonders... this is a pretty impressive, geological site. Towering columns and massive "piles" of basalt rock rise above the floor and offers an awesome, jaw-dropping "How'd that happen" site. From Devil's Postpile, hike another 2.5 spacious miles for another one of nature's creations, Rainbow Falls, which, hence the name, DOES showcase a real rainbow. And, be sure to trek down to the bottom for yet another breathtaking viewpoint. With all the different trails and areas within Inyo National Forest, you can spend forever hiking, mountain biking, exploring and experiencing the many joys that the outdoors brings. read more

I see most people throw on 5 stars because it's a national park and then there is this rock formation. It was interesting to see and photograph but I was only mildly impressed to be honest. Maybe the 5 star people don't get out much. The drive down the hill just to get to the parking area sucks and is pretty long. I would rather spend more time at june Lake or Convict lake then walking all the way down here. read more

See all

Another fascinating and unique geological phenomenon in the Eastern Sierras. There are restrictions when visiting. The park is closed in winter. When open in summer, most visitors must take the shuttle which starts at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area - the huge parking area with the multiple ski lifts west of town. Cars are allowed in the monument when the shuttle is not in operation like when we went in October. Depending on your time and ability, the trail layout is suitable for many schedules or energy levels. Step 1 (easy): Drive or take the shuttle to the Devil's Postpile trailhead which is shuttle stop #6. Hike a half-mile to the highly unique Postpile. Although basalt is common and there are other examples of the hexagonal cracking around the world, the lack of horizontal breaks is uncommon. It is unusual to have the long, straight, and thin columns. Be sure to take the loop to the top of the Postpile to see the glacier-polished post tops. Step 2 (still pretty easy): For more adventure, follow the trail for two miles to the 100-foot tall Rainbow Falls. There are two vista points above the falls plus a short, but steep stairway to the bottom of the falls. Even after a severe summer drought, there was plenty of water flowing. A number of photos are posted in a separate Yelp listing at http://www.yelp.com/biz/rainbow-falls-mammoth-lakes. Step 3 (moderate because of the distance, but not because of steepness): For even more adventure, follow the trail for over half-a-mile to Lower Falls. Although not as tall or dramatic as Rainbow Falls, Lower Falls has its own peaceful serenity. I also liked the trail which goes through the rebirth of a fire-devastated forest. On the way back to the parking lot, revisit Rainbow Falls and the Postpile where the light will be different. On the drive out (but not available by shuttle), stop at the Minaret Vista which has a view of the jagged Minaret peaks on one side and the steep slopes of Mammoth on the other. The road to the Vista is next to the park entrance payment station, but going to the vista doesn't require shuttle or admission fee. read more

When I was a little kid, my family would go to Mammoth every summer. Over the years, we developed a pretty regular pattern. In the early '80s, Devil's Postpile figured prominently into this pattern, but eventually we stopped coming. Most of my memories of this place involve being terrified. First, there was the scary ride to the actual site. Imagine riding a really old school bus on a cliffside that doesn't seem to be paved very well and that doesn't have enough room on it for more than one vehicle. Well, that's the ride here. Then there's the river my brother fell into while walking on the rocks. And the posts themselves, which aren't really scary as much as weird and mossy and strange. And then there's the earthquake fault you can walk down into. That's cool, but what if the Big One hits while you're down there? Scary as all hell, which guarantees it at least four stars. read more